Automatically-controlled water-gas set



June 17 1924. 1,498,174

J. S. KENNEDY AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLED WATER GAS SET File d Dec. 21 1921 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 I fizquontoz" June 17 1924. 1,498,174 I J. s. KENNEDY AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLED WATER GAS SET Filed Dec. 21. 1921 7 Sheets-Sheet 2- llllllllllilll ||l|Illl|Illllllllllllllllllllllllll June 17, 1924.

1,493,174 J. S. KENNEDY AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLED WATER GAS SET Filed Dec. 21 1921 '7 Sheets-Sheet 3 W 7 WWW Jufie 17. 1924. 1,498,174

J. S. KENNEDY AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLED WATER GAS SET Filed Dec. 21 1921 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 yWLz/KW W June 17, 1924. 1,498,174

. J- S- KENNEDY AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLED WATER GAS SET Filed Dec. 21. 1921 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 vwamtoz mom:

June 17, 192-4. 1,498,174

, J. S. KENNEDY AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLED WATER GAS SET Filed Dec. 21 1921 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 avwemtoz J AQMQ \IIJ \IIJMP \m i (F9 4 3 Q o 4 h l June 17, 1924. l 1,498,174

.J- S. KENNEDY AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLED WATER GAS SET Filed Dec. 21. 1921 '7 Sheets-Sheet '7 Patented June 17, 1924.

UNITED STATES PAT'NT oFFica JAMES S. KIEHSINEIDY, OF YONKERS, NEW YORK.

AUTOMATICALLY-CONTROLLED WATER-GAS SET.

Application filed December 21, 1921. Serial No. 524,038.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES S. KENNEDY, a citizen of the United States,- residing in Yonkers, county of Westchester, State of New York, have invented a certain Improvement in an Automatically-Controlled Water-Gas Set, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention has relation to a water gas set, and more particularly to the ineans for automatically controlling the operation of the water gas set. I

This application is in part a continuation of my earlier cope'nding application Serial No. 427,706, filed December 2nd, 1920.

As is well known, the making of carburetted water. gas involves a cycle of operations, comprislng generally a series of alter nate blows and runs. During the runs, the basic gas is being formed by the passage of steam through a mass of incandescent fuel, by which it is decomposed. During the blows air is being forced through the fuel mass to restore the temperature lost during the decomposition of the steam.

Besides the valvescontrolling passages of the air and steam, it is necessary to operate in proper sequence the stack cap, the oil admission for enrichment of the basic gas in the carburettor and the mutually connected upper and lower hot valves which determine the direction (up or down) of flow through the fuel.

The total length of time occupied by a complete cycle of operation will vary with variations ina number of conditions; and such variations will also determine the proortions of the total time occupied by each blow and run, as well as the proper moment for admitting and cutting oil oil and for reversing. the direction of the flow of steam by moving the hot valves. The determination of these various factors is the function of a gas engineer, and, where all of the successive and inter-related valve movements are accom lishedmanually, the closest supervision of abor is rendered necessary. Indeed it is virtually impossible to insure perfect compliance at all times with the rules for-o eration laid down by the engineer. Besi es this, careless operation sometimes causes accidents which are dangerous to life and property.

The present invention supplies means capable of easy application to existing types with complete certaintyand entire accuracy.

The utmost flexibility of operation is possible, so that the order. of operations and the time occu ied b each is capable of quick and easy etermmation by an engineer, who

merely has to set the mechanism for the particular operation deemed vnecessary at any time. Once set, the device can be relied upon to bring about a succession of cycles of the desired character, without possibility of mistake or accident. In its preferred form, my system involves a complete interlocking, whereby no particular operation can be carried out without the previous occurrence of such other operations as should properly anticipate it. includes a complete protectivesystem to insure safety, whereby the water gas set is automatically shut down and placed in a safe condition upon failure of an operation to take place successfully at its appointed time, or in case of accident or emergency. My apparatus possesses also the advan- The invention also.

tage thatit does not merely determine the proportions of a fixed total time which are occupied by each blow and run successively. In my system the total length. of a cycle may be varied at will within-any predetermined limits, and thus certain definite and independent time periods can be assigned to the blows and runs respectively.

A further important feature of this invention is found in means whereby the entire automatic system may be rendered inoperative (but only in the shut down position) while enabling an engineer to operate the set manually in accordance with special conditions; or, if desired to operate one or I in elevation and partly in section showing the. relation 'of the controller proper to the apparatus for opening and closing the various master valves Fi res 2, 2, and 2, are related diagrams in e evation and part1 in section showing the controller and its riving means, Figure 3 is a diagram in elevation illustrating the relation of the controller to the safety means, whereby the emergenc switch trip is operated in. case of accident, igures 4- and 5 are successive parts of a total diagram in elevation, showing the operating means for an entire system. Figure 6 is a diagram in elevation ona larger scale showing the preferred means for man ual operation of the valves, and Figure 7 is a diagram in elevation of all the essential parts of a water gas set equipped with my invention.

As several of the valves which have to be moved in the operation of water gas sets, particularly in sets of large size, are

very heavy, it isnow the practice to em ploy hydraulic power to move such valves. The hydraulic cylinders or engines which supply this motive power are controlled by master valves conveniently grouped, and, in" my preferred apparatus the controller" is em loyed to control the motive means for sai master valves. One preferred means whereby amaster valve is thus controlled is shown in diagram in Figure 1; it being understood that the description applies to all the master valves used in my system.

1 In Figure 1, the front of the controller (driven preferably as hereinafter described) is shown at the right. The circular dial 10 is numbered at equal intervals around its circumference from 0 to 10, these intervals preferably representing ten minutes of time, a period longer than the total of blow and run or cycle whlch is likely to be used.

The finger 11 is moved} intermittently clockwise around the dial 10 at such a speed as to make the total circuit in ten minutes; and it carries a contacting member 12 which can be brought into electrical contact with successive stationary members 13 and 14, which are capable of being moved, in any well known manner, along the same circular path, so that contact with the member 12 will take place at any particular time desired. For convenience an open circle, as 13, will indicate a stationary adjustable contact member used for opening a valve,

while a filled or black circle, as 14, indicates' a member used for closing a valve. As will be described in connection with Figures 4- and 5 the plurality of instrumentalities for operating a gas set is controlled from one controller, by using stationary adjustable contact members in separate concentric circles, each circle corresponding to a single instrumentality. This arrangement is referred, but is not, of course, essential.

n Fi ure 1, a hydraulic master valve is indicate at 15. The moving part of the valve is, as usual, operated by the rod, 16, pivoted at 17 to the handle 18, which is eriod ing rod 16 is pivotally connected, through the connecting rod 16, with the lower half of the eccentric strap 20, within which is closely fitted the eccentric disk 21. This disk is eccentrically and loosely mounted upon the shaft 22, which is continuously rotated by the motor hereinafter referred to iii-connection with Figures 4 and 5.

A clutch member 23 isslidably mounted .on the shaft 22 and is keyed thereto, so as always to turn with it. W hen forced to the left in Figure 1 in the manner described hereinafter, the member 23 makes frictional engagement with the clutch disk 24, which is fixed to the disk 21, thus causing this latter to revolve with the shaft 22. B causing successive engagements of the clutc members of suitable duration, the disk 21 can be rotated, through 180 degrees at a. time, thereby causing successive up and down movements of the operating rod 16, and so opening and closing the valve 15.

These periodical engagements and disengagements of theclutch members are preferably accomplished by an electro-magnetic solenoid. 25 which, when energized, liftsa lever 26 fulcrumed at 27. This acts through the bell crank lever 28 and the usual forks 29 and collar 30 to move the clutch member 23 in a well known manner. Disengagement of the clutch is accomplished by the spring 31, when the solenoid is de-ener gized.

Iii order that the rotation of the disk 21 may be limited to 180 degrees at each operation, there is fixed to one face of the disk 2. fiber disk 32 which bears a conducting plate shown in Figure 1 at 33. This plate has an enlargement and is furnished with segment shaped openings, as shown, in order to cooperate as described hereinafter with the four contact brushes 34, 35, 36 and 37, to control the movements of the solenoid 25 and therefore of the disk 21.

Supposing the valve 15 to be closed, and that, it is desired that it shall open when the intermittently moving brush 12 reaches the contact 13. In this position brushes and 37 make contact with the plate 33 (Fig. 1) while the brush 3 1 being outside the edge of the plate and the brush 36 being over an aperture in the same, these brushes are not in circuit.

As soon as the brush 12 touches the terminal 13, the circuit will be closed from the main terminal L? by wire 38 to the finger 11 and brush 12, terminal 13, wire 39, brush 37, plate 33, brush 35, wire 40 and solenoid 25, to the other main terminal L This valve, when the b rush.12 touches the termi-.

ond opening in the plate, and, as the brush 37 has left the enlargement on the plate 33, the circuit through the solenoid is definitely and finally broken. This permits disengagement of the clutch, and the disk 21 stops turning. At the end of this movement,

however, the enlargement on the plate 33 has come under the brush, 34, and the solenoid will be again energized, to close the The apparatus for actuating the controller proper K is shown in Figures 2, 2 and 2". The motive force may be supplied by any constant speed motor, preferably an electric motor as indicated at 41. This motor, by appropriate gearing as shown, drives the shaft 42 continuously, and at a relatively high speed. The shaft 43, upon which is mounted the controller finger 11, is normallydriven intermittently fromthe shaft 42. This is preferably accomplished by means of the one-toothed gear 44 on the shaft 42, cooperating with the pinion 45. In practice, the motor 41 is so timed that the tooth on 44 becomes operative once every fifteen seconds; although the particular period of time is, of course, not essentiaL.

Through appropriate. gearing, as shown, each revolution of the shaft 42 causes the spur gear 46 to make one fiftieth of a revolution and this gear is mounted loosely on the shaft 43. In normal operation each movement of the spur gear 46 causes theshaft '43 to move the finger 11 through one ure.

quarter minute space, and forty of these movements carry the finger from the zero position at the top of the dial in Figure 1 to the ten minute position shown in thatfig- This arrangement is adapted to cycles of blow and run occupying ten minutes or less. Of course the system can be adapted to other total time intervals by obvious means.

A double-faced clutch 47 is keyed to and slidably mounted upon the shaft 43, and this clutch is controlled by the pivoted levers 48 and 49, actuated in one direction by the solenoid 50 and in the other direction by the spring 51. This spring normally holds one face of th e'friction clutch 47 in operative contact with the corresponding' clutch member on one face of the gear 46, as shown.- In consequence, so long as this normal position is preserved, each forward intermlttent movement of the gear 46 prodilces a movement forward of the finger 11.

On the opposite side of the clutch 47, the

shaft 43 carries a loosely mounted pinion 52, which is geared to the shaft 42, as shown, in a manner to produce a relatively rapid angular velocity in said pinion. When the solenoid 50 is energized itoperates through the levers 49 and 48 to cause engagement of the clutch 47 with a clutch member on the pinion 52, and the shaft 43 is thereby caused to revglve rapidly forward clockwise. The lever 48 carries an'insulated bar 53, which closes the switch 54, when the solenoid is actuated, for a purpose described hereinafter.

A revoluble drum switch, shown developed upon a plane at in Figure 2, carries on its insulating surface two metal 56, 57 which are adapted to close. circuits respectively across the pairs of terminals 58 and 59. This drum turns with a supporting shaft upon which is also fixed the lever 60 normally supported by a pin 61 resting on one of the arms of a three-armed lever 62 (see Figure 2). The spring 63 acts to depress the lever 60 with a quick snappy movement whenever the support at 62 is 2 return to normal is permitted y the liftingof the lever 60 by means of a pin 66 on an arm carried by the shaft 42, revolving anticlockwise as shown by the arrow in Figure 2", which pin lifts the tip of, the lever 60, permitting the spring 65 to bring the supporting lever 62 under the pin 61. i

In order that the energizing circuit of the solenoid 50 may be closed at a time when the pin 66 is in properrelation with the lever 60, the solenoid circuit includes a pair of terminals 67 which are bridged.by the insulated metal pin 68, on an arm carried by the shaft 42, a few moments after the lever 60 has been lifted. All of these operations are carried on at'relatively hi h speed, and well within the fifteen secon normal movements of the finger 11.

In order that the finger 11 of the controller ma be ready to start from zero at the end "0 the fifteen second period which concludes a given cycle, and so that this may be done whatever the .total time, within the maximum limit, occupied by the com lete cycle of blow and run, a special end 0 run contact 69 is provided, the position of which on the controller dial is adjustable in any well known manner. This is so placed that, at the proper moment, the bra 12 makes contact with it, when the finger Li period between will be promptly returned to zero within the next fifteen second period. This is accomplished as follows.

As soon as the brush 12 touches the end of run contact 69, a moment or two will elapsebefore the pin 68 closes circuit at 67, when the solenoid 50 will be energized by a circuit as follows. From main terminal L through the finger 11 and brush 12 to contact 69, by wire 70, switch 67, Wire 71, solenoid 50, switch 56 and wire 72 to main terminal L 7 Although this circuit will be almost instantly broken at 67, a branch circuit established at 54 by the action of the solenoid will preserve the circuit. The clutch 47 will at once cause the swiftly moving pinion 52 to drive the shaft 43, carrying the finger 11 forward, and, just as said finger reaches zero, the cam 64 will remove the support 62 from under the pin 61, thus opening the solenoid circuit at 56, and stopping the finger by movement of the clutch 47 backto the normal position shown in Figure 2. It will be seen that this return of the finger 11 to zero is accomplished well within the fifteen second period between normal movements of the finger, thus avoiding all waste of time. 7 p

It is, of course, sometimes desirable to shut down the apparatus and this should occur normally only at the end of a completed cycle. By use of the apparatus shown in Figure 2, the normal shut down switch may be 0 ened at any time during a run or blow, an theshutting down will be postponed automatically to the end of the cycle.

The normal shut down switch 73 closes circuit to the-motor 41, through, wires 74, 75 and 72, but, so long as the drum switch 55 is in the position shown, which keeps the solenoid 50 prepared, the motor 41 will be supplied with current by a branch circuit including the wire 76 and the switch 57. Hence,on opening circuit at 73, the motor 41 will go on running until the lever 60 is dro pod and the drum switch 55 is operated to e-energize the solenoid 50. As already explained, this only occurs at the end of a cycle.

Before referring to the complete organiization shown in Figures 4 and 5, reference will be had to Figure 3, which illustrates the automatic and the manually operated emergency apparatus whereby the entire system can be at once placed in safe condition, in case of accident, without waiting for the end of the cycle.

Assuming that the hydraulic cylinder 79 in Figure 3 operates or instance) to open the carburettor valve 7 9 which by some ac cident fails to close when the brush 12 reaches its closing terminal 14. Each of the hydraulic cylinders is connected for interlocking purposes with a revoluble drum cirreserve Quit-controller 77, the various arrangements of which are fully shown in diagram in Figures 4 and 5. In Figure 3 this circuit controller is shown in end view and only the contacts associated with the emergency shut down are shown. Circuit. is closed at the circuit controller 77 when the main valve is open, but as the valve closes, a rod 7 8, attached torthe rod 79 moving with the valve, operates through a pin 80 on the forked lever 81 to openthe circuit at 77.

Associated with each operating contact, as 14, on the main controller is an emergcncy contact 82, so placed as to be touched by the brush 12 as soon as it leaves the corresponding contact 14. Consequently if the main valve intended to be closed when contact occurs at 14 should fail to-operate, circuit will be closed at 82 to shut down the whole system, as follows.

From the terminal L by wire 83 to the emergency switch 84, by wire 85 to fin 11, brush 12, contact 82, wire 86, switch 7, wire 87, the high voltage coils of a transformer 88 and back to terminal L rent from the low tension side of the transformer will then energize the releasing magnet 89 which withdraws the latch 90 from the pivoted bar of the emergenc switch,

allowing the spring 91 to throw t e switch down to close circuits through the lower stationary contacts shown in Figure 3. As will be seen from inspection of the circuits in Figures 4 and 5, this operation of the emergency switch will act to open the stack. if closedcl0se the generator and carburettor blast if openopen the upper hot valve if closed-and closed the oil valve it open. This places the set in a safe condition until the trouble can be located and repaired.

Inasmuch as the circuit of the motor 41 that runs the controller proper is opened when the emergency switch is thrown, the finger 11 will stop in a position to indicate at once which valve has failed to work, and so locate the difiiculty.

It is desirable that an alarm bell should be rung when the emergency switch is automat1cally thrown, and this is accomplished as follows. Current from L goes by wire 92 and wire 93 to switch94 to a bell 95 and thence by wire 96 to the terminal L. In order to permit instant shut down b manual operation, a sprin pressed rod 97 is used which, when pus led, swings the pivoted lever 98, thereby tripping the latch 90 and throwing the emergency switch. In order to revent rin ing ofthe alarm hell on manna shutting down, the lever 98 carr es a hook 99 which normally holds the pivoted lever 100 in the position shown, thereby keeping the plug switch 94 closed. lVhen this hook is de ressed, however, on pushing the rod 97, t e spring 101 draws the lever 100 to the right and opens the switch 94,- thus openin the bell circuit. An extension 102 on the lever 100 is su ported by the lever of the emergency switc so that the lever 100 will be reset when the lever 84 is reset by hand.

For the sake of cleanness, certain parts of the total system of circuits used in practice have been isolated in the foregoing description, and these are sufiicient for the normal operation of a practical system, assuming that no accidents occur. In actual operation, of course, accidental failure of operation in one member or anotherof the entire system must be foreseen and provided for. In some cases, such a failure of operation would result in serious damage and even possible loss of life, and, for this reason, I prefer to make whatmay be termed an interlocking system, whereby accidents of this kind are automatically and certainly prevented. Such 'a system is shown in Figures 4 and 5, which should be laced end to-end with Figure 5 on-the rig t hand.

-The controller dial and pointer hitherto described has been reduced to its simplest terms, in its relationto control of a single valve. As shown in Figure 5, however, this element is shown in complete form as used in actual practice in the control of a gas set.

Here the finger 11 carries a brush 12 com-' prising five springs moving over as many concentric circles. In each of these circles is shown a series of adjustable stationary contacts corresponding to the typical contacts shown at 13 and 14 in Figure 1. Each operating contact. is-shown accompanied by an emergency stopcontact corresponding to that shown at 82 in Figure 3.

In order to make the present invention clear with relation to the complete set, in-

cluding theinterlocking feature, it will only be necessary to follow in detail one operation. Figures 4 and 5 show the detailed circuits for carrying out all the operations in thein interlocked relation as hereinafter set forth. I

The various valves with their interlocking switches are shown as follows in Figures 4 and 5. The stack operator is shown at A; the upper hot valve at B; the generator blast at C; the carburetter blast at D; and the oil valve atE. It is to be understood that the steam valve is automatically opened and closed by the respective closing and opening of the stack. This is the usualarrangement in these sets and is not herein shown. Also the upper and lower hot valves are connected in the usual manner, so that when either is closed the other is opened. The automatic actuating means for the elements shown atgA to E are respectively indicated at A", B, etc. Their operation has'been described in connection wlth Figures 1, 1 and 1". The common shaft 22 .run. trated in Figures 4 and 5. The order of these for actuating all of these is driven by the electric motor 103. i

. Referring now to one example'of operation, let us suppose the finger 11 to stand at zero, at the beginning of a cycle, with the movable contacts 12 touching the stationa contacts 104 and 105. The circuit throug 104 may be traced as follows. From terminal L through the switch by wire 106 to switch 84, by wire 107 to switch-55 b wire 108 to-switch L hereinafter describe by wire 109 to switch 84, by wire 110 to switch L hereinafter described by wire 111 to. the finger 11, brush 12, contact 104, wire 112, interlocking switch at E, closed when the oil; valve is closed, wire 113, to plate 33 at A the stack, solenoid 25 at A, wire 114, switch 'L, wire 115, and switch L to If.

This opens the stack as already described with relation to Figure 1. From the foregoing it is clear that the stack valve could not have been opened unless the oil valve ing switch atB, when'valve B is open as shown, by wire 118 to plate 33 at C solenoid 25 at C and by wire 114 as' before to switch L and terminal L This circuit opens the generator blast valve C. It should be noted that the generator blast valve could not have been opened unless the hot valve was closed.

By following the circuits shown in Figures 4 and 5,-it will be seen that the following operations follow in order as the brushes 12 successively reach the contacts about to be named. g

The stack and generator blast valves A and C having been opened at contacts. 104 and as above described, contact is made at 119, which acts to open the carburetterblast valve D It will be seen that the carbureter blast valve cannot be opened unless both the stack valve and the hot valve, and therefore the generator blast valve, have been opened. These remain open during the blow, together with the upper hot valve B which was leftopenafter the pre-. vious cycle of blow and run. This blow lasts until thecontacts 12 touch the fixed terminals 120, 121, 122, and 123 when the following operations take place.-

Current through 121 closes the carburetter blast valve D through 122 closes the generator blast valve C through 123 closes the stack A and through 120 opens the oil valv E. These operations inaugurate the It is this condition which is illusoperations is determined by the interlocking switches.

When the brush 12 reaches 124 acircuit is closed. which closes the upper hot valve thereby automatically opening the lower hot valve not shown and reversing the direction of flow through the fuel. This conclition continues until the terminal 125 is reechecl, when the circuit thus. established reopens the upper hot valve B The circuit established upon melting contact at 12%) closes the oil valve E, and when 127 is reacheil the resetting operation hitherto described with relation to; Figure 2 takes place. This-returns the finger 11. to zero for a new cycle.

clesirecl o contact 12% mill? as shovrn, whereby the C is opened. when the iesetcing contact is made. inis erlorcls t few nionents' of purging hetero the steel is opens i. thus saving gas. For this purpose contact 158 is directly connected with contnctlO by m r M i a Y Gill? 0, (Lo Siluill'l.

g poi-poses, LG prevent "A s," 1 oi; tne roeer oioei "I A the A, c. c. 5. it

ops Inntn we soon A C over stationary conclnct i v7 int-rial relations ct cl noon 2. plane, "for greaier clearness. l

seen hat, by using this system he opera yon o o i #1 n l given 35181116??? lllliSt 53:: 110i) Moreover, it is a very inipo or the present invention that. in case on one of valves fails toicoroplete its propriste movement at on time, means are provided whereby this very feet will the entire set to he brought antoinsticslly into s. safe shot clown condition.

Assunoino: for instence, that the steel: valve A fails to open completely when contact is mecle a brush 12 at the contact 10% in the central controller switch. As soon as the brush 1% leeves the contact 1% it will close circuit open the corresponding emer gency contact 852, as follows:see Figures 4 and 5.

From the resin terminal L, through the switch U, Wire 1053, switch 84, Wire 110,

switch l'f, Wire 111v arm 11, brush 12, contact 82., Wire 86, switch A, common emer valve-opereting contact in the central convalve will ooen. The hot vslve and the stack valve must open before the carburettor blast valve will open. The generator blast valve and the carburettor blast valve must both close before the stool: *slve will close.

The carburettor blast valve must close before the generator hlast valve will close. These interlocks insure both safety correct sequence of operation.

is clesirahle at times to make a straight valve will not close and the emergency con tact immediately following and essociated with thecontsct 12 iis ren ierecl inoperative. llhen normal runs ere desired in which the flow through the tire is reversecl the svvitch L is closed.

By inspecting the circuits shown in the droning Fig. 5 it will he seen that the circuits from the contacts 105 and 119 for opening the generator and carburettor last valves respectively pass through the normal shut clown switch L Whenthis switch is opened, therefore for the purpose of shutting clown the set at the end of the run these valves will not open when the brush 12 reaches the zero position and the set shuts down.

The main switch L is associated with a no voltage alarm comprising a bell 129 which rings when current fails in the mag not 130, the coils of which are constantly in the rosin circuit. This is a well known device for making it known when there is an accidental feilure of current. Vihen this occurs, the engineer in charge can complete the cycle by manual operation of the hy- (lrenlic valves.

@ccasions may arise when it may become desirable to carry the set through one or more cycles of operation involving time intervels not in eccordence with the usual its associated e-niergencv normal operation as established by the particular arrangement of fixed contacts ex. isting in the controller 10. In orderto .be able to do this conveniently without having. to disturb the normal condition of said controller, it is preferred to connect up with the system a special manuel operator shown in its proper electric connection but on a small scale at F in Figure 5. This will now be described with reference to Figure 6 which shows the preferred construction n detail and on a larger scale.

This manual operator comprises a row oi push buttons Gr, each cooperating in a well known manner with one of the pairs of spring contacts in the group shown at H to close its. appropriate circuit. One spring in each pair is connected as shown with a common wire 131 leading to one side of the switch L The remaining springs in the various pairs H are connected, as shown in Figure 5, to wires leading to the various operating groups A, B,.C, etc. in other words, these sprin s correspond in the manual controller to t e various fixed contacts in the automatic controller 10. The buttons are shown white and black alternately. The white buttons serve for opening the dillerert valves and the black buttons for closing them. The first pair of buttons, starting at the left in Figures 5 and 6, controls the stack valve; the next pair controls the upper hot valve; the next the generator blast valve; the next the carburettor blast valve; and the last pair controls the oil valve.

This apparatus is contained in a box furnished with a hinged cover 132, fastened in any desired manner, and, whenclosed, preventing access to the buttons G. In order to prevent both the automatic and the manual systems being available at the same time, the normal shut down switch takes the form shown at L having its operating handle extending through a slot in the top of the box. and being furnished with a pin 133 which engages an extension on thecover 132. This looks the cover when the switch L is closed. Within the box there is a pivoted bar 134 drawn upward by the spring 135, but depressed as shown when the cover 132 is closed by means of a rod 136 upon which the extension on the cover descends.

The switch L having been thrown to shut down the automatic system, and the cover 132 being raised, the bar 134 moves upward until the pin 137. which it carries. comes behind the switch lever l see dotted lines in Figure 6. This prevents closure of this switch as long as thev cover 132 is raised.

The two-way switch li within the box normally keeps the wire 111' connected with the wire 110 going to the main terminal L and thus keeps the automatic controller in operative condition. This switch is kept closed for this purpose by a rod 138 which is pressed down by the cover 132 when closed. As soon as the cover is lifted, how,- ever, the spring 139 throws the switch L up, and the wire 110 is brought into connection with wires 140 and 131. Since the wire 140 is connected directly to the end of run contact 127, the effect of this upward movemcnt of the switchL is the same as that resulting-from contact between a brush 12 with the terminal 127 during normal operation of the controller 10, Therefore the con troller finger 11 returns at once to zero without sending current to any of the dial con to return the maincontroller 10 to zero, and

to place in operative condition a group of push buttons G whereby the entire set can be operated manually in accordance with any desired time schedule. Closing ofthe cover disconnects the manual apparatus, connects the rnain controller finger 11 to the main terminal L by wires 111 and 110, and

unlocks the shut down switch L", which can then be returned to normal, in which posi' tion it locks the cover 132.

The apparatus thus far described is capable of use in many forms to adapt itto "various arrangements of the essential elements of a water gas set. By way of extoo ample I have shown one arrangement of V such a set to which mv invention may be applied in Figure 7. This is strictly a dia gram in which practical relative proportions and locations are not followed. as these would take up too much room. It is to be understood that the various elements are shown only in their functional relation in this drawing. The generator is shown at 14. and th carbureter 143 is shown connected to both the top and bottom of the generator by the pipes 144 and 145 respectively. ommunication through these pipes is commanded respectively by the upper hot valve B and the lower hot valve 146. These are actuated as usual by the hydraulic engine B through the levers and linkage shown. so that when one valve is open the other is closed; and the same mechanical transmission operates the lever 147 to operate the steam reversing valve 148, which determines the direction in which the steam is to pass through the generator in a well known way. The actual admission of steam through the pipe 149 is governed by a hydraulic engine 150 moving a valve 151, which engine is controlled in a well known manner from the proper valve in the master valve group M. This operates in conjunction with the stack valve. as already described.

At 152 is shown the admission pipe for the air blast, which is controlled by the carburetter blast valve D and the generator blast valve C respectively as already described.

At 153 is shown the superheater connected with the carburetter 143 by the pipe 154:. At 155 is shown the pipe which leads the gas to thewash box (not shown) and the re mainder of the gas works with which this invention is not concerned. The stack valve A is governed by the hydraulic engine A as already described. At A B C and D are shown the electric interlock switches already described. These, as shown, are operated directly from the main valves and the wires shown in Figures 4 and 5 are carried in conduits 214 (so marked on Figure 7) to a proper dis-' tribution box 156.

The master valves which govern the main valve-operating hydraulic engines as already described are shown grouped at M. One of these operates the oil valve E direct- 1y. as shown, and as already'described.

The lines representing the hydraulic piping connecting the various master valves with the main valve engines are so marked on the drawing.

, The electric motor for actuating these master valves is shown at 103. The switch 'L has been described in connection with Figures 4 and 5.

The main controller for the electric circuits is indicated in Figure 7 at K, and the wires communicating therewith and shown in detail in Figure 5 are carried in a conduit 157, leading to the distribution box 156.

Various changes may be made in this apparatus without .departing' from the scope of the invention, which is not limited to the details herein shown and described.

What I claim is- 1. An automatically controlled gas apparatus comprising main operating valves, m0- tive means for the same, an electro-magnetic operating device for each of said motive means, a controller switch having contact members electrically connected with said devices; in combination with motive means ada ted to impart a cycle of movement to sai switch, said motive means being adapted to impart to the movable member of the controller either an intermittent movement or a continuous return-to-zero movement, electro-magnetic shitting means for determining which of these two movements is imparted, and circuits controlled by special eeann contacts in the controller switch for operating said shifting means.

2. An automatically controlled gas ap paratus comprising main operating valves, motive means for the same, an electro-magnetic' operating device for each of said motive means, a controller switch having contact members electrically connected with said devices; a shut-down switch, electromagnetic motive means therefor and an operating circuit for said motive means controlled by special contacts in the controller switch.

3. An automatically controlled gas apparatus comprising main operating valves, motlve means for the same, an electro-magnetic operating devic for each of said motive means,.a controller switch having contact members electrically connected with said devices; a shut-down switch adapted to cut out the movable member of the controller switch and close circuits around the controller for shutting down the apparatus by. suitable operation of the main valves, electro-magnetic motive means for said shutdown switch, and an operating circuit for said motive means controlled by special contacts in the cdntroller switch.

4. An automatically controlled gas apparatus comprising main operating. valves, motive means for the same, an electro-magnetic operating device for each of said m0- tive means, a controller switch having contact members electrically connected with said devices; in combination with a manual operator for the apparatus comprising a series of circuit closing keys adapted respectively to close circuits for the different valve operators around and independent of the controller switch.

5. An automatically controlled gas a paratus comprising main operating va ves, motive means for the same, an electro-magnetic operating device for each of said motive means, a controller switch having a single movable contact member. and stationary contact members adapted to make operative contact with said movable member in various positions capable of regulation by an operator at will. 1

6. Apparatus as in claim-5 wherein the timing of the controller switch contact corresponding to operation of one or more valves may be changed without affecting the timing of the other valves.

7. An automatically controlled gas a paratus comprising main operating valves, motive means for the same, and an automatic controller for determining the time of operation of each motive means, said I25 controller being adapted to be adjustable with respect to the timing of any one motive means without ailecting the timing of another.

8. An automatically controlled gas appa- 130 ratus comprising main operating valves,

means for actuating said valves at predetermined time intervals, and means operating automatically upon failure of a valve to operate to shut down the gas apparatus, said means being adapted to insure a safe shut down condition by automatically controlling the order in which the valves are operated. 7

9. An automatically controlled water gas set comprising a generator. blast valve, a carburetter blast valve and circuits, for 0 erating the same; a main controller switch having means for normally closing circuits for opening said blast valve when the controller is in zero position, and an external shut down switch adapted to open said blast-opening circuit when the switch is used to shut down the set.

10. An automatically controlled gas apparatus comprising main operating valves, motive means for the same, and a plurality of interlocking means for insuring operation of-said valves in a pre-determlned order, said interlocking means being adapted to be operated each by means directly connected wifh its corresponding main operating va ve.

11. An automatically controlled gas apparatus comprising main operating valves, motive means for the same, an electro-magnetic operating device for each of said motive means, and interlocking switches in cir-- cuit with the electro-magnetic operating system adapted to insure operation of said main valves in a pre-determined order, said switches having their respective movable members directly and operatively connected with the corresponding main valves of the apparatus.

12. An automatically controlled gas apparatus comprising main operating valves,

'' motive means for the same, an electro-magnetic operating device for each of said motive means, a controller switch having operating contact members electrically connected v with said devices, emergency contacts in said controller switch corresponding respectively. to said operating contact members, a shutting down circuit in which said emergenc contact members are adapted to be include, and switches controlled by the movementsof said main operating valves for governing the operation of said shut down circuit.

In .testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand on this 20th day of December, 1921.

JAS. s. KENNEDY, 

